Paul Pogba celebrated a ‘beautiful’ end to the year as he inspired another big Manchester United win over Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United’s £89million record signing continues to flourish under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with four goals in three games for the caretaker boss.
Afterwards, Pogba praised United’s attacking brand of football and appeared to aim a veiled dig at Jose Mourinho over his negative approach at Old Trafford.
Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly dancing is the only type of energy I want to take into 2019 😂🔥 #mufc [Ig] pic.twitter.com/FZ529Yc2OS
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) December 30, 2018
‘This is how we want to play,’ said Pogba whose toxic fall-out with Mourinho contributed to United’s decision to sack the Portuguese coach.
‘We are more offensive, we create more chances, and play higher. We want to attack and the manager wants to attack – that’s what we are doing on the pitch.
‘We still won some games with the old manager, it’s just a different style of play.
‘Maybe we have just realised that we are Manchester United and we need to be at the top of the league.
‘You’ve seen the reaction of the players. Everyone is enjoying themselves and that’s what we need. We need to enjoy playing football, work for each other and that gets the results on the pitch.
‘We needed to win, it was a great performance as well so we’re coming back. There is still a long way to go but to finish the year like that is beautiful.
‘I always want to do more but I also must not do too much; to play for the team, play simple, that’s the most important to try to play like that again. There is still much to improve and a long way to go.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is awestruck by his players. Listen to the way he describes Rashford’s play for Pogba’s opening goal! He absolutely loves the club. Couldn’t have asked for a better person to be leading this club until May. 🇾🇪 #mufc [MU] pic.twitter.com/mCChaUecev
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) December 30, 2018
Pogba has also made three assists in as many games under Solskjaer, and the United manager praised the Frenchman for not ‘showboating’ – something he has been accused of in the past.
‘That is a top, top performance from a midfielder,’ said Solskjaer. ‘It’s work-rate, headers, winning tackles, no showboating.
‘It’s touch, pass, move and he’s at his best when he plays that game. There was maybe one flick he could have done better with, but not a lot else he could have done.
‘I’ve said to all the players, we want to see the best out of them within the framework and how we want the team to play and all of them really performed up to the top standards.’
Solskjaer had no complaints about the straight red card shown to Eric Bailly for a lunging tackle on Bournemouth substitute Ryan Fraser towards the end of the game that has earned the Ivory Coast defender a three-match ban.
‘No, I don’t think so and Eric won’t either,’ he added.
‘He knows he’s mistimed that one. He’s excited, he’s playing again, and he thinks he’s going win the ball. It was a rash tackle.’